Assembling device for vacuum tubes



W. J. MALCOLMSON AND H. BLOUNT.

ASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR VACUUM TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29. 1919.

1,403,800, Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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WILLIAM J'. MALCOLMSON,

"N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW Yoax.

OF CICERO, AND HARRY BLOUN'I, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY,

INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK,

ASSEMBLING DEVICE FOR VACUUM TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed. December 29, 1919. Serial No. 848,013.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. MAL- COLMSON and HARRY BLoUN'r, citizens of the United States, residing at Cicero, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Assembling Devices for Vacuum Tubes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description.

This invention relates to an assemblying device for vacuum tubes, and more particularly it relates to a device which may be used in the manufacture of vacuum tubes for temporarily holding in their proper relationship certain parts of such a tube while the are being permanently attached.

or purposes of illustration, this invention will be described and illustrated as an assemblying device which may be employed in the basing operation of that type of vacuum tube which embodies a glass bulb connected to a base comprising an outer shell and an inner block, which latter carries the terminals connected to the electrodes within the bulb. Inassemblying such devices, the

shell and the block may be secured together and the bulb anchored therein by a filler, such as sealing-wax, which is poured onto the block and which actsas an insulating medium between the terminals.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a circumferentially complete member outside the shell and adjacent one edge thereof for preventing the sealing-wax or other filler from etting on the outside of the shell during t e process of.asseinbling the shell and the block.

The preferred form of this invention comprises a socket, adapted to support the base of a tube in'combination with means for supporting the bulb and pressing it endwise, into the base. Means are also preferably provided for interlocking the base and the socket. Such a device is simple and durable, and is one to which the tubes may be applied or from which they-may be removed with ease and rapidity.

This invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view partly in sect1on and partly broken away, of an assembly device constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of our invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective pleted tube base; and

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the insulating block within the shell of the tube.

Similar reference numerals throughout the views indicate the same parts.

The vacuum tube of the kind worked upon is shown in Fig. 1, and referring thereto 1 indicates the tube or bulb, 2 the base shell in which it is' supported, 3 the block within the shell and 4 the terminals carried by the block and connected to the electrodes (not shown) within the bulb. The block 3 is of irregular web-like form, as shown in Fig. 3, and is made of insulating material. This block is" inserted in the shell 2 and is adapted to rest upon an inner ledge 3' formed in the shell. After the block is inserted the shell adjacent it is crimped as at 2 to hold the block in place. To the block are fastened the plates 4' for the wires leading from the electrodes within the glass bulb, and these plates 4 are electrically and mechanically connected to the terminals 4. The structure provided for the reception of the tube is generally of a tube-like form and comprises a hollow lower portion 5 in which are anchored a plurality of upwardly projecting bolts or posts 6.

The lower sleeved ends 7- of these posts project freely within the interior of the portion 5. One of the posts 6, which is shown to the right of tube 1 in the drawing, has its upper end threaded into a cap p1ece 8, on V which are fitted a sleeve 9 and a collar 10 to support an upper structure consrstlng, 1n the present instance, ofan intermediate annulus 11 and an upper socket member 12. As shownin the drawing, that portion of cap piece 8 between annulus 11! and the collar 10 is of considerably less dlameter than other portions thereof, so that if desired, a suitable supporting arm for the fixture may be placed in engagement with this small portion of cap piece 8. The other posts 6 are threaded into cap pieces 25, WhlCll extend upwardly and are suitably fastened to the flange of the socket member 12. The flange of the socket member 12 and the annulus 11 are spaced apart by sleeves 26 while annulus 11 is spaced apart from the base portion 5 by other sleeves 27. The said socket mem ber is provided with a bayonet slot opening 13 at its upper edge and its interior diameter is such that the tube base 2 will fit closely therein. Coiled about the sleeves 7 at the lower end of the bolt 6, and resting upon the heads 14 of these bolts, are arranged light springs 15 of the compression type. They bear at their upper ends against the under side of a platform 16 that is guided slidably upon the sleeves 7 in a vertical direction, and is provided with a central 0 ening 17. The openings in sleeves 11 an 12, part 5 and plate 16 are so made that when the bulb and shell are in position therein,

. the bulb and shell are in axial alinement.

At the same time the locking pin 18 pro'ectmg laterally from the side of the base 0 the tu e enters the bayonet slot 13 in the socket 12. A subsequent, rotary movement of the tube interlocks the projection 18 thereof in the bayonet slot 13, confining the base in its socket and placing the springs 15 under tensionso that they act to thrust the bulb 1 into the base of the tube and firmly hold it there. The aperture 17 in the platform centers the bulb, permits its rotation and protects the usual tip 19 formed at its end. A.

. ring20'having an inner shoulder 21, which rests on the upper edge of socket member 12, and an u per beveled surface 22, is ada ted to has ipped in place after the tube is p aced in this device and closely embraces the end portion of the shell 2 of the tube. The upper portionsof the beveled face 22 and the edge of the shell lie closely together so that when the sealing wax is poured into the shell any of it runnin over will run down the bexgl portion 22 instead of down between the ring '20 and the shell 2.

The sealing wax in a fluid state, can now be poured into the base shell of the tube to cover the block 3, and, when cooled, forms a solid body occupying the space between the block and the rim of the shell, as indicated at 23 in Fig. 2. It flows into the crevices between the parts and when hardened it holds the bulb, shell and block firmly together. The tube is removed by a downward and then a rotary movement that disengages the interlock at 13, and the apparatus is in readiness to receive the next article. There is a considerable space between the upper face of portion 5 and the annulus 11 through which the evacuated vessel 1 may be seen. Through this space the glass bulb may be manually manipulated (to adjust the plane of the electrodes) into proper relation tothe shell while the sealing wax is hardening. The sighting pin 28 may be employed, if desired, to insure that the electrodes in the tube are in the desired relation with respect to the bayonet pin 18 of the base.

The device when constructed in the manner shown amply protects the fragile tube and also serves to dissipate the heat absorbed from the molten Wax.

What is claimed is 1. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination of a substantially cylindrical socket open at both ends and adapted to support said base, and yielding means acting in a directiontowards the socket adapted to support said bulb and to press it endwise into said base, the end of said socket opposite said bulb being adapted to receive a sealinlg medium.

2. n an assembling device for'vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination with a socket adapted to support the base, of yielding means acting in a direction toward the socket adapted to rotatably support the bulb and press it endwise into the base, and a lockin device in the socket adapted "to operative y engage the base through a rotary movement of the latter.

3. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination with a socket adapted to support the base in an inverted position and a tubular'support for the socket, of means on the latter adapted to interlock with the b ase, and a yielding platform within the support adapted to engage the bulb and thrust it into the base, said support being adapted at its end opposite said bulb to receive a sealing medium. 1

4. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination with a socket adapted to support the base in an inverted position and a tubular support for the socket composed of a plurality of annular members connected together by longitudinally extending posts, of means on the socket adapted to interlock with the base, a platform guided on the posts below the socket and adapted to engage the end of the bulb, and coil springs surrounding the posts beneath the platform to press the bulb into the base.

5. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination with .a socket adapted to support the base in: an inverted position and having a bayonet slot therein adapted to interlock with a lateral projection on the base by a rotary movement of the latter and a tubular support for the socket composed of a plurallty of annular members connected to+ gether by longitudinally extending posts, a

platform guided on the posts below the socket and having a central opening adapted to be rotatably engaged by the end of the bulb, and coil springs surrounding the posts beneath the platform to press the bulb into the base.

6. In an assembly device for a vacuum tube comprising a bulb and a base, a support for said bulb, and means comprising a tubular member of substantially uniform diameter throughout its length and open at both ends for holding said base in axial alinement therewith while said parts are being secured together.

7. In an assembling device for a vacuum tube having two cylindrical parts, a support for one of said parts, and means comprising a tubular member of substantially uniform diameter throughout its length and open at both ends for holding the other of said parts in axial alinement therewith while said parts are being secured together.

8. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes, a ring adapted to engage the shell of a tube base, said ring having a beveled edge, and means for maintainlng said beveled edge adjacent one edge of said shell.

9. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination of a socket adapted to support said base, a platform adapted to' engage the end of said bulb, and a plurality of spaced resilient means for causing said platform to press said bulb into said base.

10. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination of a socket adapted to support said base, yielding means acting in a direction towards said socket for supporting the bulb and for pressing the bulb endwise into said base, a pin on said base, and a bayonet slot in said socket cooperating with said pin for interlocking said base and said socket.

11. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination of a socket for supporting said base, a plurality of spaced discs surrounding said bulb for holding said bulb in axial alignment with said base, and resilient means for pressing said bulb into said base.

12. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination of a socket for supporting said base, a support for said bulb, and a ring mounted on said socket and having a beveled edge adjacent one edge of said base.

13. In an assembllng device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination of a socket for supporting said base,

resilient means for pressing said bulb into said base, and a plurality of standards disposed around said bulb for connecting said means and said socket.

14:. In an assembling device for vacuum tubes comprising a bulb and a base, the combination of a socket for supporting said base, resilient means for pressing said bulb into said base, said socket having a flange, andposts arising from said flange for supporting said resilient means.

In'witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 19th day of December A. D. 1919.

WILLIAM J. MALCOLMSON. HARRY BLOUNT. 

